Victoria Azarenka vs Angelique Kerber: Prediction | H2H | Stats: Miami Open 2021

An exciting encounter between the 14th seed Victoria Azarenka and the 24th seed Angelique Kerber in the third round of the Miami Open. 

Azarenka got a walkover against German player Laura Siegemund who withdrew from the round of 64 match due to a knee journey. 

On the other hand, Kerber thrashed Mexican qualifier, Renata Zarazua 6-0 6-0 in the second round. It was a pulsating performance from the German as she claimed 66% of her first-serve points, 65% of second serve points, and also saved 6 out of 7 breakpoints.

"The score is a little bit different than the match was because a few games were like really close and tough," opined Kerber after her comfortable win against Zarazua in the round of 64. 

Kerber last won a match double-bagelling her opponent in the first round of Wimbledon 2015 when she won 6-0 6-0 against fellow German Carina Witthoeft. It was her fifth double-bagel win in her entire career.

Head to Head Record

Azarenka leads the one-sided head to head record 8-1 against Kerber. The German notched up her only win against Victoria in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open in straight sets.

“There are a lot of matches against Vika in the past, so I know it is another hard battle against her, I am looking forward and will try to play, like how I played the last few days here in Miami, you know, it will be a good match, but this is why I am here, to play good matches against the best players," said Kerber sounding quite confident ahead of her 10th match against Azarenka in her career. 

Key Insights

• Azarenka is a three-time Miami Open champion having won the tournament in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
• Both Kerber and Azarenka are multiple grand slam champions having won two and three respectively in their careers.
• Azarenka is playing for the first time after giving a walkover to Garbine Muguruza in the semifinals of the Doha Open, Qatar this month due to a back injury.
• Kerber lost to Bianca Andreescu in the round of 32 in the last edition of the Miami Open in 2019.
• Azarenka was defeated in straight sets by Frenchwoman, Caroline Garcia in the round of 64 in the 2019 Miami Open.
• Both Azarenka and Kerber are former World number one players.

Game Analysis

Kerber would be pumped up after playing a near-perfect game in her second-round match. Being a leftie, she can create clever angles with her two-handed backhand by returning her opponent's serve aggressively. 

Though Azarenka is playing her first match of the tournament, she can trouble the German by controlling the rallies from start to finish. Kerber can unsettle the Belarusian by forcing her to play defensive tennis from the baseline. 

The German has to maintain a high pace in her footspeed and use the drop shots and lobs effectively. Azarenka can get the upper hand if she makes Kerber play the long rallies and does not hit shots to her inside-out forehand. 

Victoria Azarenka vs Angelique Kerber: Prediction

This is an equally matched battle as the German's prowess in playing passing shots from the baseline will be matched by Azarenka's finishing skills at the net and a potent cross-court backhand. 

The Belarusian's dominating rivalry against Kerber in the past and topspin heavy forehand gives her a slight edge against the in-form German who may be troubled by the humid conditions.

Prediction - Victoria Azarenka to win in three sets

Featured Image Credits - First Sportz